The wiggle room of non-EU member states

Abstract

The purpose of this panel is to examine the affiliation of non-member states to the EU, seeking to understand how much autonomy and ‘wiggle room’ the countries actually have, given different arrangements and agreements with the EU. Wiggle-room implies an ability of non-member states to influence the relationship with the EU, including elements of differentiation such as degree of flexibility, choice and discretion. The asymmetrical nature of the relationship with the EU as hegemon is acknowledged. The panel includes studies of sector policies in non-member states, which are tightly integrated such as Norway, and countries who are not integrated, like the UK. By comparing their relationships with the EU in certain issue areas and exploring their ability to stake out their own political, economic, social and cultural paths, the panel seeks to contribute to debates about what EU membership is. It also exemplifies the role of the EU in externally differentiated integration, questioning how far and how extensively the EU’s system of norms and rules are transforming non-member-states. The panel presents insights from a book project under development, which is about Norway’s EU experience and what lessons there are from this experience for the UK after Brexit. One key aspect in this book is the triangular relationship between the three parties – the EU, Norway and the UK. Hence, studies of the EU-Norway-UK triangular dynamics are also relevant to this panel.